Possible Prequel to Hard Boiled

[wudawg]

Here's a link a friend sent me:

http://www.firstshowing.net/2009/03/15/hard-boiled-sequel-might-actually-be-a-prequel-after-all/

A week ago we brought you the news that a sequel to Hard Boiled / adaptation of the video game Stranglehold was in development at John Woo's Lion Rock Entertainment. There weren't many details, but it was exciting news nonetheless. The guys at Twitch decided to dig up some more details and went to Woo's producing partner Terence Chang. He confirms that they are developing another Hard Boiled movie, but that "it is a total reinvention, with a much younger Tequila. In other words, it is not a sequel to Hard Boiled." So does that mean it might be a prequel? Chang didn't say, but it sounds like that's the case.

Chang starts off saying: "There was once a sequel to Hard Boiled, from an idea that I had. I developed it for Chow Yun-fat and had commissioned a pretty good script written by John Jarrell. The project is now inactive." So let's jump to today, where the Stranglehold video game, which is a sequel, has been out on shelves since late 2007. Chang continues: "We are now developing a movie of Stranglehold, and just signed the writers Jeremy Passmore and Andre Fabrizio. It will be a hardcore action film set in both Hong Kong and Chicago. We will keep some of the action set pieces of the game, but the story is different."

We're not exactly sure what this means and it looks like we'll have to wait to hear more or see how far into production it gets before we have more answers. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, it just means we won't get a direct sequel like originally reported. And I'm sure they won't cast either Chow Yun-Fat or Tony Leung again, which is a bit of a shame, but oh well. I'm cautiously optimistic about this being any good anyway.



Just in case you haven't heard the news.

[lillippa328]

cool...thanks

[Markgway]

No John Woo... No Chow Yun-Fat... Not cool. :(

[gsk]

This movie sounds lame. Everyone wants another Chow Yun Fat/John Woo two fisted gun play epic. We've been waiting 17 F-ing years for this film and we still don't have it!! Why do they think we want this? I don't want some John Woo wannabe movie starring some lame cantopop singer trying to act like Chow Yun Fat!! Someone needs to sit Terrence Chang down and tell him that no one wants this film and that he's an F-ing idiot if he thinks people do want it. Horrible idea!

[Doubleh]

The story on the front page mentions that John Woo might not even direct the film. Instead the director might be Stephen Fung. This brings up the question, why bother? Shouldn't they just create a new film using the same style of gun fights? Doesn't anybody realize only John Woo can properly do a John Woo gun fight?

[blueCobra]

No John Woo? No Chow Yun-Fat? I was so excited when I first heard of the sequel. Now my heart is crushed. And on St. Paddy's day of all days! I guess if they want to make Stranglehold a franchise and market it for a young demo it might make sense to make the lead some young tv actor that i've never heard of. I think that everyone of us here believes that a more mature Tequila Yuen could be far more compelling. Its going to be one hell of a task trying to capture the same level of badassness without Chow Yun-Fat holding those 2 guns in his hands. I just hope that they won't forget that this movie is suppose to have balls.

[I Like Elaine]

Personally I think it's for the best that John Woo doesn't direct this. Too much time has past, and expectations would be too high. No matter how good it is, people will find something to complain about, and compare it to the original. Besides that, these Hollywood and Asia hybrid movies never really work for me. Just sounds like a watered down John Woo action movie.

[silver hermit]

Wilson Yip might be a good fit if he can bring some of the magic from flashpoint to this production. i like the new camerawork of HK and the new technology combined with the old john woo style has potential to be really good. i wonder if john woo is availible for assisstant director duties?XD

[emacs]

this film requires white doves, in flight, regardless of who directs it.

[Markgway]

Stephen Fung is supposed to be directing.

[emacs]

Stephen Fung is supposed to be directing.

his film from 2005, House of Fury, was pretty good.

[Markgway]

Pretty good? Yes.

John Woo good? No.

[Tantheman]

Hard-Boiled has been my favourite film for about ten years now. I was living in trepedation of Stranglehold, but finally got it on the xbox 360 earlier this year. Its pretty good fun, and does feel like your in the movie to a certain extent.

But this prequel sounds undeniably lame. Chow IS Tequila, no one else can play him. And theres no way that the movie will have such outrageously and beautifully filmed action scenes as the original. Those were the zenith of Woo's action scenes and they will never be touched for pure adrenalin soaked brilliance. I am boycotting this piece of sh*t movie from day one

[Fightingfist]

So is there still no prequel? :( hard boiled was amazing.